How to Give Your Dog Heart Massage or CPR

If your dog's heart stops beating, heart massage must be done immediately. You must get the heart beating before attempting artificial respiration.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog

1. 
    

   Put the dog on its side, with the head lower than the body. Put the heel of one hand on its chest, just behind the elbow. Place the heel of your other hand on top of your first hand.

2. 
    

   Press your hands down and forward, toward your dog's neck, vigorously compressing its chest. Use firm pressure to push blood out of the dog's heart toward its brain.

3. 
    

   Repeat this action at the rate of 100 times a minute.

4. 
    

   Give heart massage for 15 seconds, then give mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration for 10 seconds.

5. 
    

   Check often for a pulse. Continue CPR until you feel a pulse. Once your dog's pulse comes back, continue artificial respiration until the dog begins to breathe on its own.

Tips & Warnings

• If two people are available, one should do heart massage while the other gives artificial respiration.
• If three people are available, make sure someone calls the vet. Then have the other person apply pressure to the dog's groin. This will divert blood flow to the dog's brain.

[kskaggs]

on 1/20/2009 Thanks for the info!

[texaspeach63]

on 8/24/2008 Very informative article! Thanks!